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One dead from West Nile virus in Alberta

CTVNews.ca Staff
Published Friday, October 12, 2012 3:08PM EDT

This 2006 photo made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a female Aedes aegypti mosquito acquiring a blood meal from a human host at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. (The Canadian Press/AP - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - James Gathany)

One person in southern Alberta has died from a West Nile virus-related illness, Alberta Health Services said Friday.

The death marks the first WNv fatality in the province since 2007.

“Sadly, as we’ve seen in Alberta this year, West Nile virus infection can cause severe illness and even death,” said Dr. Gerry Predy, Senior Medical Officer of Health, AHS.

Ten human cases of the virus have been reported in the province this year, seven of which were in the southern area, including the one fatality, according to the AHS. The Calgary, central and northern zones have also each reported a case.

The Public Health Agency of Canada reported 386 clinical cases of infection from the virus nationwide as of the end of September.

Bites from mosquitoes carrying the virus can cause West Nile Non-Neurological Syndrome (formerly known as West Nile fever) and occasionally, the more serious West Nile Neurological Syndrome in humans.

Symptoms of the non-neurological syndrome include fever, chills, nausea and vomiting, while symptoms of the neurological syndrome include tremors, drowsiness and paralysis.

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Photos

This 2006 photo made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a female Aedes aegypti mosquito acquiring a blood meal from a human host at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. (The Canadian Press/AP - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - James Gathany)